Outboard tow and crash bar



March 14, 1961 c. LANG 2,974,625

OUTBOARD TOW AND-CRASH BAR Filed May 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR 074E455 L l/VG I76. 7 H G. 6 F /G. 9 ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 c. LANG OUTBOARD TOW AND CRASH BAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1958 INVENTOR ffl/leffi Z A 4 61 ATTORNEY 2,974,625 OUTBOARD row AND CRASH BAR Charles Lang, 24th and Blvd., Box 85, Ship Bottom, NJ. Filed May 28, 1958, Ser. No. 738,474

7 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) This invention relates to an attachment for boats, and it particularly relates to an attachment on the stern of a motor boat to be used as a protection for the outboard motor as well as a bar for towing and water skiing.

It is one' object of the present invention to provide a device of the above type which is easily attached and removed from the boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type which is simple in construction, easy to use and to maintain and easy to keep in repair.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved attachment, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the stem end of the boat with an attachment embodying the present invention connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, similar to Figs. 2 and 3, of a third form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. -6 is a detailed, side elevational view of yet another modification of the invention.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed elevational views of three different forms of tow ring elements.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view, similar to Fig.- 1, of another modification of the invention. .Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view taken on line 13-13 of-Fig. 11.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown in Fig. l a boat 10 having an outboard motor 12 attached to the stern thereof. Attached to the stern of the boat 10 at each side of motor 12 are a pair of brackets 14 to which is attached a tow bar 16.

The brackets 14 each comprise a block 18, preferably made ofoak or similar material, and a plate of metal or the like indicated at 20. The block 18 bears against the inner surface of the stern wall of the boat 10 while the plate 20 bears against the outer surface thereof. Bolts 22 and lock nuts 24 clamp the block 18 and plate 20 against the wall of the boat 10.

Extending outwardly from the face of plate 20 is a stud 26 of cylindrical shape and having a transverse hole therethrough. The bar 16 is of hollow, tubular construction and is outwardly bowed, and each of its ends is adapted to telescopically envelop one of the studs 26. A transverse hole is provided in each of the end portions of use the bar \16 and these transverse holes are adapted to mate with the similar holes in the corresponding studs 26. A lock pin 28 of substantial strength is adapted to be engaged through the corresponding transverse holes in the bar 16 and studs 26 to secure the bar 16 to the brackets 14. Each pin 28 is provided with an eyelet portion 30 through which passes a chain or cord 32 for securing the pin to the plate 20, the chain or cord 32 being secured by any desired means to the plate 20.

The bar 16 is shown in Fig. 1 as being provided with two different types of tow ring means indicated at 34 and 36. The ring 34 is also illustrated in Fig. 7 and comprises a simple ring of metal or the like loosely held on the bar 16. The tow ring means 36 is also shown in Fig. 9 and comprises a sleeve 38 which fits snugly on the bar and is provided with end portions of outwardly inclined dimensions so that the sleeve 38 is generally spool-shaped. A ring 40 is provided on the central portion of the sleeve 38, this ring 40 being loosely mounted but being prevented from sliding ofi the spool-shaped sleeve 38 by the fiange-like ends of the sleeve 38 which act as stop means.

A third type of ring device is shown at 42 in Fig. 8 and comprises a major portion 44 of annular shape and a minor portion 46 of narrower, elongated shape. The

portion 46 forms a sort of lip in which the tow line may be received and .snugly held against slidable movement.

Of the three types of ring units described above, the ring 34 is the most simple and the cheapest; the unit is capable of being held against sliding movement on the bar 16 by means of the snug fit of sleeve 38 while the ring 40 is still permitted its loose mounting to permit play of the tow line; and the unit 42 is almost as simple and cheap as ring 34 but provides a firmer control of the tow line. i

In Fig. 3 is shown a bracket 48 substantially similar to bracket 14 except that, instead of a relatively narrow stud such as at 26 in Fig. 2, there is provided a relatively wide sleeve 50 adapted to telescopically embrace the corresponding end of the bar 52 of solid construction. The ends of bar 52 are also provided with transverse holes to mate with corresponding transverse holes in the sleeves 50 so that a lock pin 54 may be inserted therethrough. The pin 54 is similar to pin 28 and is also provided with an eyelet 56 to receive a chain 58 which is attached at its other end to plate 60 of the bracket 48. The bracket 48 is also provided with a block 62 similar to block 18 and bolts and nuts 64 and 66 similar to bolts and nuts 22 and 24.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown abracket 68 comprising block 70, plate 72 and bolts and nuts 74 and 76 similar to the corresponding parts in Figs. 1-3. Extending from the plate 72 are a pair of spaced parallel arms 78 of fiat, plate-like character and of a generally V-shaped contour. A hole is provided in each arm 78 with these holes being in alignment to receive a locking pin 80 similar to pins 28 and 54, this pin 80 being simultaneously insertable through a transverse bore the corresponding end portion of a bar 82 similar to bar 52.

With this type of construction as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when the pin 88 is withdrawn, the bar 82 can be pulled away laterally to each side as well as being withdrawable axially. This prevents any possible jamming or adhesion of the parts due to rusting.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a form of the invention, generally designated 84, which comprises a O-clamp yoke 86 which is substituted for the separate'blocks and plates used in the previously described forms of the invention. This single-piece C-clamp yoke 86 prevents loss of misplacement of the separable pieces and is more easily attached to or detached from the boat, without making any holes through the stern.

The yoke 86 is provided with a threaded hole on the 6 inner arm thereof through which extends a threaded bolt 88 having an abutment disc or head 90 on one end and a wing-type handle 92 on the other end. The bolt 88 is adjustable to releasably clamp the yoke against the boat (as shown in Fig. 6).

Extending from the outer face of the yoke 86 is a sleeve 94 into which is adapted to telescope the end of a bar 96. The sleeve 94 and bar 96 are similar to sleeve 50 and bar 52 in Fig. 3 and mating holes are similarly provided to receive a locking pin 98 similar to pin 54 and held by a similar chain 100.

In Figs. to 13 there is shown a form of the invention which is particularly adapted for use on a boat where the motor is an inboardrather than an outboard type. The boat is here indicated at 102 and at its stern end there is provided a bracket generally designated 104. The bracket 104 comprises a base plate 106 of elongated shape which extends just short of either side of the boat. The plate 106 is connected to the stern end of the boat 102 by means of countersunk studs 108. Hinged to the upper edge of the plate 1% is a swing plate 110. The hinge connection is formed by hinge plates 112 at opposite ends of the upper edge of the plate 106 and by hinge plates 114 on the upper edge of plate 110. These hinge plates are held in place by countersunk studs or rivets, respectively shown at 116 and 118, and are connected by hinge pins 120.

At the lower edge of the plate 106, adjacent each end thereof, is provided a vertical slot 122 in which is pivoted, as by a threaded pin 124, a bolt 126, the bolt having an enlarged bearing portion 128 through which the pin 124 extends. At corresponding positions on the lower edge of plate 110 there are provided similar slots 130 having widened ends at either side, as at 132.

When the plate 110 is in the downwardly hinged position parallel to plate 106 (as in Fig. 11) the bolts 126 are pivoted up into the slots 130 and clamped in place by wing nuts 134 (as best shown in full line in Fig. 11 and in Fig. 13). When it is desired to hingedly move the plate 110 upwardly, the wing nuts 134 are loosened and the bolts 126 are brought into the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 11. Extending from the outer face of plate 110 at each end thereof is a stud 136 adapted to be telescopically received within the corresponding hollow end portion of a tubular, concave bar 138 similar to bar 16. A locking pin 140, similar to pin 28 and connected to plate 110 by a chain 142, is adapted to be inserted in mating holes in the bar 138 and stud 136 to hold these parts releasably secured together, as in the case of pin 28.

By the construction of Figs. 10 to 13, the bar 138 can be moved out of the way whenever desired. However, when it is desired to use the bar 138, it is held in secured position by bolts 126 and nuts 134. When in this position, tow rings 144, similar to ring 34 may be used to secure the lines to the bar 138.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tow and crash bar device comprising a bracket assembly having means for securing said bracket assemthe other arm of bly to the stem end of a boat, a concavely-curved bar extending outwardly of said bracket assembly and having its ends releasably secured thereto, said bar having tow ring means loosely, positioned thereon, said bracket assembly comprising a base plate secured to the stern end of the boat and a swing plate hinged at one edge there of to a corresponding edge of said base plate, means to releasably lock said swing plate in parallelism with said base plate, and means on said swing plate forming releasable securement means for said bar.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said tow ring means comprises at least one annular ring loosely positioned on the bar.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said tow ring means comprises at least one ring having a major annular portion and a minor, relatively narrow elongated portion integral with said major portion.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said tow ring means comprises at least one spool-shaped sleeve closely held on the bar and a loosely fitting ring on said sleeve between the ends thereof.

5. A tow and crash bar device comprising a pair of brackets, each bracket comprising two clamping plates releasably held together by bolts and nuts, a retaining means extending from the front face of one of the plates of each bracket and a concavely-curved bar having its ends releasably secured to said retaining means, said retaining means being a sleeve within which is telescopically received the corresponding end of the bar, a locking pin releasably extending through mating holes in said sleeve and bar and tether means securing said releasable pin to said sleeve against being lost.

6. A tow and crash bar device comprising a pair of brackets, each bracket comprising two clamping plates releasably held together 'by bolts and nuts, a retaining means extending from the front face of one of the plates of each bracket and a concavely-curved bar having its ends releasably secured to said retaining means, said retaining means comprising a pair of vertically spaced apart, flat arms between which extends the corresponding end of the bar, each of said arms and said bar having mating holes in which is releasably secured a vertically extending locking pin, whereby when either pin is removed, said bar may pivot about the other pin.

7. A tow and crash bar device comprising an elongated base plate, a swing plate hinged at one edge to a corresponding edge of said base plate, mating slots at the opposite edges of each plate, a bolt pivoted in each slot of said base plate and swingable into and out of the corresponding slot in the swing plate, a nut adjustably positioned on each bolt exteriorly of the corresponding slot in the swing plate, a retaining means adjacent each end of said swing plate, and a concavely curved bar having its ends releasably secured to said retaining means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,889 Johnson Feb. 10, 1959 2,907,295 Delaney Oct. 6, 1959 2,920,598 Nielsen Ian. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,852 Great Britain May 17, 1939 

